St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-07-08


their way home from visiting their
Southern friends. | want you to un-
derstand that l have lost no con-
fidence in the Grand Army Of the
Republic as an organization, nOtwlth-
standing recent occurrences to which II
is not necessary further to allude. 1t IS
incOmprehensible to me that men who
have riSked their lives to save the gov
ernment should return home to abate one
jOt or title of their respect and support
which every good citizen owes 10 .the
government and constituted authorities.
l greet you then as citizens as we'll as
veterans and l shall be pleased TO take
you all by the hand
A MORE EXTENDED REPLY.
ST. LOUIS, July 7.-President Cleve-
land will not attend the Grand Army
encampment. as will be seen by the fol-
lowing letter from the president to
Mayor Francis, which has been received
here:
Executive Mansion, Washington. July
4.-HOn. David r.: Francis, Mayor and
Chairman-Dear Sir: When | received
the extremely cordial and gratifying in
vitatiOn from the citizens Of st. Louis,
rendered by a number of her represent
ative men, to visit that city during the
national encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic, L had been
contemplating for some time the
acceptance of the invitation from
that organization to the same effect,
and had considered the pleasure which
it would afford me if it should be pos
sible to meet, not only members of the
Grand Army, but the people of st.
Louis and other cities in the West
which occasion would give me an OPP
pOrtunity to visit. EXactionS Of my
public duties | feel to be so uncertain.
however. that when first confronted by
the delegation of which you were the
head. | expected to do more at that time
than to promise consideration of the
double invitation rendered me, and to
express the pleasure it would give me
to accept the same thereafter. If posi-
bic. But the cOrdiality and sincerity of
your presentation, reinforced by the
heartineSS of the people who surrounded
you, so impressed me that l could not
resist the feeling which prompted me to
assure you on the spot that L
WOULD BE WITH YOU
and the Grand Army of the Republic at
the time designated, if nothing hap
pened in the meantime to absolutely
prevent my leaving Washington. In
mediately upon the public announce
ment of this conclusion, expressions
emanating from certain important MEM
berS of the Grand Army of the Republic
and increasing i'll volume and vlrulence,
constrained me to review my acceptance
of these invitations. The expressions
referred to go to the extent of declaring
that would be an unwelcOme guest at
the time and place of the national Ell
campment. This statement is based, as
well as | can judge. upon certain official
acts of mine involving important public
interests. done under the restraints and
obligations of my oath of office, which
do not appear to accord with the wishes
Army of the Republic. | refuse to be-
heye that this organization, founded
upon patriotic ideas, composed very
largely of men entitled to lasting honor
and consideration, and whose browning
glory it should be that they are Ameri-
can citizens as well as veteran soldiers,
deems it Il part of its mission to compass
any object or purpose by attempting to
intimidate the executive or coerce those
charged with making and executing the
laws: and yet, the expressions to which
| have referred, indicate such preva-
lence of unfriendly feeling and such a
menace to an occasion which should be
harmonious, peaceful and cordial, that
understand that am not conscious of
ANY ACT OF MINE
which should make me fear to meet the
Grand Army of the Republic or any
other aSSemblage of my fellow citizens.
The account of my official stewardship
is always ready for presentation to my
cOuntrymen. | should not be frank if |
failed to confess, while disclaiming all
resentment, that l have been hurt by
these unworthy and Wanton attacks
upon me, growing out of this matter,
and the reckless manner in which my
actions and motives have been misrep-
resented. both publicly and privately
for which. however, the Grand Army of
the Republic. as a body, is not response
bic. Threats of personal violence and
harm in case | undertake the trip in
queStiOn-which scores of misguided,
unbalanced men, under Stimula-
ton of excited feeling. have made
are not even considered. Rather
than abandon my visit to the West and
diSappoint your citizens. might, if |
alone were concerned, submit to insult
to which. it is quite openly asserted l
would be helplessly subjected if present
at the encampment, but | should bear
with me there the peoples highest
office, the dignity of which | must pro-
tect. and / believe that neither the
Grand Army of the Republic, as an or
ganiZation, nor anything like a majority
of its members, would ever encourage
any Scandalous attack upon it. If.
however. among the membership of
this body there are some, as certainly
seems to be the case, determined to de-
nounce me and my official acts at the
national encampment. believe they
should be permitted TO
DO so ITNRESTRAINED
bv my presence as the guest of their or
ganiZatiOn. or as the guest OF the hos
pitable city in which their meeting is
held. A number of the Grand Army
posts have Signified their intention, |
am informed. to remain away from the
encampment in case visit the city at
that time. Without considering the
merit of rSuch an excuse, feel that l
ought not to be cause of such n0n-at-
tendance. The time and place of the
encampment were fixed long before my
invitations were received. Those de-
string to participate in its proceedings
should be first regarded. and
no being should be permitted
to Interfere with their inten-
tiOnS. Another consideration, Of more
| Importance than all others, remains to
be noticed. The fact was referred to by
you when you verbally presented the
invitation of the citizens of St. Louis.
that the coming encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic would be
| first held in Southern state. | suppose
the fact was mentioned as pleasing in
dication of the fraternal feeling so fast
gaining ground throughout the entire
land, and hailed by every patriotic citi-
zen as an earnest that the Union has
really, and in fact, been saved in the
sentimentand spirit, with all the benefits
If vouchSafes to
UNITED PEOPLE.
cannot rid myself of the belief that
the least diScord on this propitious oc-
/ fl,ln,